Alabama fans Jonah Pollard, left, 11 and his father Jason Pollard, both of Ranburne, Ala., await the arrival of head coach Nick Saban and players during SEC Football Media Days Wednesday, July 18, 2018, in Atlanta, Ga. Julie Bennett / Advertiser

Speaking to reporters during his media days session Wednesday at Atlanta's College Football Hall of Fame, Saban declined to say whether junior Jalen Hurts or sophomore Tua Tagovailoa has an edge as Alabama prepares to begin preseason camp Aug. 3.

"I think the No. 1 thing that you will want to talk about is the quarterback controversy that you'd love to create, that you've already created, that you will continue to create, and I will tell you the same thing exists there," Saban volunteered before he even began taking questions. "It's still to be determined as to who is going to play quarterback for Alabama. So you can ask all of the questions about it, but it's still to be determined."

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Alabama head coach Nick Saban talks to the press during SEC Football Media Days Wednesday, July 18, 2018, in Atlanta, Ga.(Photo: Julie Bennett / Advertiser)

Saban did acknowledge he's uncertain if Hurts will be with the team when it opens the season Sept. 1 in Orlando, Florida, against Louisville.

"I have no idea," he said. "I expect him to be there. I think it's our job to give both players (Hurts and Tagovailoa) a very fair opportunity to have a chance to win the team at their position. I think that one of the two guys — obviously, both are capable. We'll create a role for one or both of those guys on our team, and they'll all have to make a decision based on what that outcome is as to what their future is, you know, at Alabama."

Saban added that Hurts can graduate in December.

"So, we are hopeful that he will stay there and be a graduate regardless of what his circumstance is as a player," Saban said. "But that's not to minimize his chances of being a starter and making a great contribution to our team in some way, even if he isn't a starter."

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Alabama running back Damien Harris talks to the press during SEC Football Media Days Wednesday, July 18, 2018, in Atlanta, Ga.(Photo: Julie Bennett / Advertiser)

Saban will turn 67 on Oct. 31 during the season, but he gave no indication he's considering a retirement date. Steve Spurrier stepped down at South Carolina when he was 70, the oldest coach in SEC history. Bear Bryant coached his last game at Alabama a month before his 69th birthday.

Saban's contract runs to Jan. 31, 2025, when he'll be 73.

"I really enjoy what I'm doing right now, and as long as I'm healthy and I can do it, I'm going to continue to do it and not worry about any numbers or what my age is or anything like that," Saban said. "But I would not want to be in the position where I ever rode the program down because I wasn't capable of making a contribution that would be positive to the success of the program."

He added that he knows which way his wife, Terry Saban, would lean.

"Let me say this: Miss Terry does not want me at home," he said. "I can tell you that. She doesn't care if I'm 60, 70, or 80. So she's looking for something for me to do."

Saban has six new members of his 10-member coaching staff, including special teams coach Jeff Banks. Offensive coordinator Mike Locksley and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi are not new, but they are in their first season at their current positions.

Saban gave this nugget for anyone curious how the new staff will recruit: "I think this is one of the better recruiting staffs that we've had, and I think that's going to be beneficial for us in the future as well."

Saban confirmed linebacker Keith Holcombe has left the team to play baseball full time to Alabama.

"I think he would add a tremendous amount of experience, knowledge and diversity to our defense because he's very smart, if he decided to come back, but that doesn't seem to be the case right now," Saban said.